Stephen Colbert’s Fiery Defense After Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC Ban

Followers of late-night TV are nonetheless reeling after Jimmy Kimmel’s present was all of a sudden pulled from ABC’s lineup.

The community suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely following his feedback about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, sparking outrage and elevating considerations about censorship.

Whereas the transfer shocked viewers, Stephen Colbert got here to his buddy’s protection on Thursday, calling out the choice as unfair and harmful. His fiery remarks resonated with audiences who concern the top of free speech in leisure.

Colbert used his “Late Show” monologue to ship a pointy protection of Jimmy Kimmel.

In entrance of a cheering viewers, he stated, “I am going to say this for my community. They would not have carried out this. Now, no matter what you suppose, that has already been carried out and the way that appears, that is weak. That is blatant censorship.”

He went additional, warning about what occurs when networks cave to stress. “With an autocrat, you can’t give an inch. Jimmy, I stand with you and your workers 100%.”

Colbert additionally opened with a daring assertion: “Tonight, we’re all Jimmy Kimmel.”

The phrases rapidly unfold on-line, turning his protection right into a rallying cry.

Followers praised him for not holding again, whereas others stayed silent.

Kimmel’s suspension got here simply days after conservative Kirk was shot and killed at a college occasion in Utah.

In his September 15 monologue, Kimmel related the tragedy to politics, saying, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang making an attempt to characterize this child who killed Charlie Kirk as something aside from one in every of them.”

The comment drew on the spot backlash from Donald Trump supporters and caught the FCC’s consideration.

Chairman Brendan Carr hinted ABC’s license could possibly be at risk if no motion was taken.

Quickly after, Nexstar Media Group introduced it might preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Dwell!” “for the foreseeable future,” forcing ABC to behave.

Critics say it wasn’t simply concerning the joke, however about political energy.

Colbert identified that the FCC’s response “positive looks as if marching orders.”

Many now argue ABC bowed to threats as an alternative of standing behind one in every of its largest stars.

Trump celebrated the suspension on Truth Social. “The scores challenged Jimmy Kimmel Present is CANCELLED,” he wrote, earlier than mocking the comic as having “ZERO expertise.”

The submit was rapidly shared by supporters, framing Kimmel’s removing as a victory.

Nevertheless, different comedians strongly disagreed.

Through the September 18 installment of “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon informed his viewers, “To be trustworthy with you all, I do not know what is going on on; nobody does. However I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he’s an honest, humorous, and loving man. And I hope he comes again.”

David Letterman was even sharper, calling ABC’s transfer “ridiculous.”

He stated networks could not hearth individuals simply because they feared political backlash or wished to “suck as much as an authoritarian prison administration within the Oval Workplace.”

The suspension hasn’t simply performed out on TV. On Thursday, Variety reported that exterior Disney headquarters in Burbank, protesters gathered with indicators that learn, “Kimmel stays, Trump should go” and “ABC, develop a backbone.”

Comparable protests additionally came about in New York, exhibiting the battle had gone nationwide.

One protester informed native media that what occurred to Kimmel “wasn’t about one joke, it was about silencing a voice.”

The outrage has pushed the story past leisure and into politics, with critics warning that comedians might now really feel pressured to self-censor.

Colbert’s monologue additionally fueled momentum, together with his phrases being shared extensively throughout social media.